Internal-combustion engine.



H. & G. E. MERRETT.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

. APPLICATION IILBD MAY 11/1909. 970,937.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

\ "UNITED STATES PATENT orn on.

HENRY MERRETT, OI EAST BUBWOOD, AND .CHARLES EDWARD MERRETT, OF SOUTH.MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, ASSIGNORS T THOMAS BOUSTEAD SIMPSON,

OF' LONDON, ENGLAND.

- INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY Mnmm'rr and CHARLES EDWARD Mnxnm'r, subjectsof the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and residents, respectively,of Green Vale Road, East Burwood, a suburb of the city of Melbourne, and48 Queens Bridge street, South Melbourne, a suburb of the city ofMelbourne, both in the county of Bourke, State of Victoria, andCommonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to internal combustion en 'nes and particularlyto oil engines in whic a charge of gas or vapor and suit able explosivemlxture of air is caused to explode in the cylinder of the engine. Inthe past numerous objections .have existed to engines of thisdescription such as the formation of injurious deposits which injuredthe cylinder and revented best "results being obtained, ine ciency ofcylinder lubrication, the inability of an engine to run on no loadwithout cooling down and the diliicultyv of using different classes offuel without, alterin valves ignition, compression, and such 11 e.

The object of this invention is to provide,

for absolute freedom from objectionable deposits in the cylinder and forthe production of an oleaginous mixture therein, com lete selflubrication under all conditions an the engine firing itself on any loadand not coolingdown under .no load. In addition any of the oils usableas fuel may be employed without alteration of the various parts, afixedair suppl-yeis maintained independent of the load, there is nogummin or clo ging of the piston rings and the like, an a reducedconsumption of fuel is ef- .fected, when running on reduced loads. Otheradvantages also will become obvious from thefollowing description.

According to this-invention, instead of only air meeting gas or vapor inthe engine cyllnder toform an explosive. mixture, heatt ed air iscausedto absorbwater or steam dependent upon the type of engine. Loaded withthe water or: steam theairnmeets the gas ,orvapor thereby making an exlosive mixture which explodesfmore readi y and with far greater efiect.The charge upon stance o Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept,20, 1910, Application flied May 11, 1909. Serial No. 495,818.

burning produces a blacklubricating-subthe approximate consistency ofVaseline. This renders'cylinder lubrication unnecessary. The air, heatedin its'passa e, is admitted by the suction stroke of the piston over aninlet valve absorbing heated water or steam during its entrance andproducing a comparatively high tem erature mixture in the form of amist. n some classes of engines steamjs used instead of water, thelatter bein used for example in oil engines and the ormer in suction asplants when a suitable valve is provi ed for its admission. The mistdrawn into the cylinder and added to the gas or va or charge, forms anexplosive mixture whic is very active and the product of thecombustionof which is a very efficient lubricant.

Referring to the drawings which form a part of this specification:Figure l is a view of a valve box to be applied to an engine cylinder.The air inlet orts, cylinder inlet and exhaust are clear y seen. The

cover of the box and the exhaust valve are removed for convenience ofillustration. Fig. 2 is a view of .the underneath of a valve box covershowing two air inlet ports only. The air inlet valve is removed. Fig. 3is a cross section of a valve box with the cover and air inlet valve inplace. The exhaust valve which is of any ordinary type is removed.Portion of the cylinder is shown and the inlet and outlet watercirculation pipes to the water jacket thereof. Fig. 4 is a cross sectionthrough Fig. 3, portions being broken away for convenience ofillustration.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like or corresponding parts wherethey occur in the several views. I I

This invention includes an air jacketed valve box throu h the Walls orshell 2 of which are two, t 3 communicating with ports 4 leading into achamber 5 in a cover 6 bolted or otherwise secured to the said box. Thenumber, area and conformation of the air inlet ports 3 will ree or moreair inlet ports depend upon the size and class of the engine. This valvebox is heated by the exhaust gases as they leave the cylinder. Dependingfrom the cover is a circular flange and passing through said cover is aninlet valve spindle 8 having on its lower end an inlet valve 9 bearingand retained against inlet 14. Below haust valve chamber 15 having anexhaustthe lower edge of the around said spindle, said cover. 1

Through the cove said spring resting on 6 is a hot water inlet 1 11(Fig. 4 with which communicates awater su pl pipe 12 led off from anypartof the cvlin er. water jacket hereinafter referredto.

in communication w1th the cylinder by an the chamber 13 isan exoutlet16. The-bottom of the chamber 13 is formed by the topof an exhaust valvein the chamber 15 but which valve is not shown in the drawings it beingof any ordinary and well-known character.

To the cylinder is The valve box is secured %Fig. 3) to the waterjacketed cylinder 17 o the engine by bolts or in any other well knownmanner.

the usual water jacket inlet circulation pipe 18 and outlet or returnpipe 19. Communicating from the return or hot water escape pi e 19 by abranch is. the charge .water supp y pipe 12 controlled by a cook 20.

The cycle of operations with this inven-- tion is as follows :The valvebox being at- 'tached to the cylinder side of say an 011 engine with thecover 6 imposition and the inlet valve 9 being sprin 10 and the cock 12allowing water to flow y dripping or with due regulation into thechamber 5 through the inlet 11 and such water having gathered upon thetop of the valve'9, presume the piston to make asuction stroke. drawnthrough the ports 3 (the walls of which are hot) and becommg heatedduring The water above the its passage expands.

' having come from the valve 9 1s also heated water jacket of the.engine, and in conse-- quence the incoming heated air entering throughtthe ports *4 into the chamber 5 has no difliculty in absorbing saidheated water or the greater part of it. If-steam be used it is absorbedinthe same manner. The hot mist so formed is by the suctionof the pistondrawn through the. inlet 14 into the cy inder where it meets the gas orvapor charge.

Combustion and explosion readily take place,-

the, residue being a viscous substance which lubricates the cylinderadmirably andis easily wiped therefrom when the engine is cleaned. Uponthe exhaust stroke of the piston the exhaust passesfrom'the c linderthrough the inlet-14, through the c amber 13, past an ordinary exhaustvalve into the chamber 15 and through the outlet 16. The exhaust isclean and comparatively cool.

The amount of water admitted into the chamber ,5 does not affect anengines working. Any over plus flows out through the type may controlits Upon such a stroke, 'air 1s flange] by a spring 10 l exhaust.

Some oil fuels however, require more water than others butas stated anover ,ters Patent is supply is-not detrimental although not erhapsaltogether desirable. v The air supp y is uniform and in actual racticethis invention has been found high y advantageous.

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Leta 1. In an internal combustion engine, the combination witha cylinder, a valve box communicatin with the combustion chamberof theengine below the valve, a valve in the upper art of said box, in the wals of said box extending from a point below to a point above said valveand communicating with the interior of the valve box above the valve andwith the atmosphere, and means for admitting water or steam into the boxand onto the valve, said valve controllingtheinlet of air, water orsteam into' the combustion chamber.

" 2. In "an internal combustion engine, the

combination with, a cylinder, a valve box adjacent the port thereof,theportion of the box below the valve communicating with the combustionchamber of the engine, and adapted to be heated by the exhaust, aninwardly opening valve in the upper side. of said box, air inletpassages in the walls of said box extending from a point below 1 to apoint retained closed by its above said valve and communieating withtheinterior of the -valve box above the valve and with the atmos here, aspring-for normallyclosing the va ve, and means for admitting water orsteam into the box above the valve, the inlet of air, water or steaminto the combustion chamber.

inlet of air,water or steam into ting steam or water into the box 3. Thecombination of an explosive engine cylinder, a valve box communicating.with the combustion chamber ofthe en 'ne below the valveand adapted tobe heat by the exhaust gases, and provided with air inlet passages inits walls communicating with the interior of the valve box' above thevalve and with the atmosphere below the valve, a valve in (saidbox,andmeans' for or water into the box and said valve controlling" thethe combusadmitting steam onto the valve,

tion chamber.

, 4. In combination anexplosive engine cylinder, a valve box, the lowerpart of said box communicatin with the combustion chamber of the engme.below the valve and adapted to be heated by the exhaust gases, andprovided with air Inlet assages 111 its walls communicating with t 'einterior of said valve controlling air inlet' passages I the valve boxabove the valve and with the 2 atmosphere below the valve, an inwardlyopemng valve in said box,means for admits valve, and a spring fornormally closing said valve,

above the I said valve controlling the admission of, air, steam or waterinto the combustion chamber, substantially as described.

5. In an explosive engine, the combination of a cylinder, a valve boxhaving its lower part communicatin with the combustion chamber of theenglne below the valve and adapted to be heated by the exhaust'gases andhaving air inlet passages in its walls communicating with the interiorof the valve box above the valve and with the atmosphere below thevalve, a valve closing said passages, and a cover for said valve boxprovided with an opening for the admission of water or steam into saidvalve box, said valve controlling the admission of air, steam or waterinto the combustion chamber, substantially as described.

6. The combination in an explosive engine, of a cylinder, a valve boxhaving its lower )art communicating therewith below the valve andadapted to be heated by the exhaust ases and having air inlet passagesin its wa ls communicatin with the interior of the valve box above t evalve and with the atmosphere below the valve, an inwardly opening valveclosing said passages, a cover for said valve box provided with an 0ening for the admission of water or steam into said valve box above thevalve, and a spring for normally closing the valve, said valvecontrolling the admission ,of air, steam or water into the combustionchamber, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in the presence of twosubscribingwit- 35 HENRY MERRETT. CHARLES EDWARD M-ERRETI.

